Skatee s



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. D. WOODWORTH.

SKATERS APPLIANCE.

N01 329,989. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

' WITNESSES JJVVEJVTOR .dttorney (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

L. D. WOODWORTH.

SKATERS APPLIANGE. No. 329,989. Patented Nov. 1 1885.

' WITNESSES I IJVVEJVTOB Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAURIN D. IVOODWVORTI-I, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

SKATERS APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,989, dated November 10, 1885.

Application filed February 7, 1885.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, LAURIN D. Woon WORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gyrators or Skating Appliances; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to skating appliances for roller-skating rinks, the object of which is to assist novices to acquire the art of skating, and also to afford amusement for the professional skater.

My invention consists of a movable device provided with arms, which afford a support for the skaters, as will more fully appear.

Figure l is a view in perspective of my device when used in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar View, showing the device extended and provided with supporting straps.

-My movable device, which I term a skating-rink gyrator, is composed of a suitable base, 9, having caster-rollers n attached to the under side of the base h is a tube or cylinder, of metal or other suitable material, secured to the base 9, and securely braced by the rods 2'.

j is a tube or bar, of somewhat smaller diameter, adapted to fit within the standard or cylinder h, and is adjusted therein by the clamp and set-screw k, or by any other adjusting device.

Z is a cap adapted to fit over the upper end of the bar or tube j and turn thereon. This cap may be the ordinary T-coupling used in plumbers work, the horizontal portion of which is adapted to receive the arms m.

When this device is used to teach the art of skating to beginners, the standard or tube 5 j, with the arms, is raised up and locked in position by the set-screws, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the arms m are somewhat higher than the heads of the skaters, and straps pendent therefrom are used in the hands of the skater.

Serial No. 155,203. (No model.)

Two arms in alignment are used, and with one or more skaters at each arm the whole machine or device readily traverses the floor with the skaters, offering but slight resistance to their movements, and effectually protects them from falling. If desirable, an experienced skater may propel the machine along the floor.

\Vhen used as a gyrator, and for amusement solely, the head or arms are placed in the position shown in Fig. 1. The skaters seizing the bar in, it thus becomes a Whirligig on rollers, which, while its arms revolve, the device itself traverses the fioor with great rapidity under impulse from the skaters, thus giving a double motion, which may be slow or fast, as desired, and by removing the rollers or caster wheels the gyrator will remain stationary.

It is evident that any base or any table having any number of legs from the top of which extends upward a stanchion upon which turn arms by any connection, will, with at least some degree of etficiency, perform the functions of the gyrator described; and I therefore do not limit myself to the precise mechanism detailed, but include, as within the spirit and scope of my invention for skating-rink equipments, any mechanical device consisting in substance of the parts described or their equivalents.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A gyrator for skating-rinks, consisting of a standard or frame mounted on suitable wheels and having a turning or revoluble head provided with arms for the support of the skaters, as set forth.

2. In roller-skating-rink equipments, the gyrator consisting, in combination, of the base g, rollers a, braces 6, cylinder h, set-screw 7c, movable or adjustable post or stanchion 9', cap Z, and arms m, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LAURIN D. WOODWORTH.

Witnesses:

W. R. STEWART, LAMOR J AOKSON. 

